CITIZENSHIP

BULLIES NEVER WIN!

Jessica is a girl in first grade who gets bullied by another girl named Brenda.  Now there are some other issues here, but you will need to read the book....  

Jess has the impression that Brenda is perfect; wears a new outfit every day, never makes mistakes, and the list goes on.  She has built this Brenda into something bigger than life. Brenda does carry it well, holds her head up and scowls at Jess when Jess out performs her!  So you see there is some envy going both ways her; like you might expect in a first grade classroom from time to time.Eventually, Brenda does get the upper hand and makes fun of Jessica almost at every opportunity.  The last straw is when Jess is mortified when her mom packs her lunch one morning and mistakenly gives her her brother's lunch box.  Brenda gives her heck, already calling her 'Toothpick', and Jessica finally tells her mom when she gets home.  Anywho, the next day at lunch, Brenda calls her 'Toothpick' again and tells her she eats baby food.  Jessica stands up and says quite confidently, "Toothpicks may be thin, but bullies never win!" Brenda can't think of anything to respond, and Jessica gets her confidence back!  Perfect ending for Jessica.

Why I like this book:
It is a great book to show a child how to fight fair.  This is teaching citizenship to small children.  Small people can learn how to defend themselves in the midst of lunchboxes and among many different lifestyles, all crammed into a school room.  I applaud books like this!  They make us think about solving our own problems. Thinking about these dilemmas, talking to our families, looking for support, and asking questions, shows us we are not totally alone.  BUT, we are empowering our children when we show them how to problem solve!

Who would like this book?
The best audience would be children who are hungry for ways to make things better, children who are dealing with bothersome friend problems. I would say first graders would be the best audience.

UGLY FISH

This book is a delightful book about why we should not bully!  Kids, grownups, and fish should not bully!  Right? Right!  This book has a different kind of take on bullying and I love it!  Some of my third graders want to hear it over and over again!  

Why I like this book:

This book lets you know what happens to the ugly fish after he has bullied (and eaten!) every fish that has been dropped into the fish tank he considers his.  He gets eaten!  Which goes to show kids and big people that if you bully others, someone eventually will bully you!

Who will enjoy this book?

JUST  EVERYONE!  I would say probably second and third graders would be my target audience.  

Compassion

I'd like for you to hear about this fantastic book, I CALL MY HAND GENTLE by Amanda Haan and pictures by Marina Sagona!  It is a lovely book and I hope you will read it!  This is Amanda's first book for children and I must say her heart went into this book for sure!  She and the illustrator live in New York City.

Another thing I would like to mention is that adults are always trying to find ways to show children the right things to do instead of tell, tell and tell them!  This book helps you do that. I am attracted to books that teach and model gently.  This one hits the mark and gets a high grade from me.  A great read for a picture book with not too many words in it!

What I liked about this book:
The book is a very hands on book.  Looking at the cover makes you want to pick it up and check it out! Simply written and illustrated , it tells what hands can do. They can be gentle of course, but this book offers so much more. It is a reminder of the power of what an individual can, or cannot do. So even though it is about gentle hands and being compassionate, it is also about self-control, making good decisions, thinking about all the empowering ways our hands help us!

Who would like this book:
Children ages kindergarten through 2nd grade most probably would love hearing this book.  The pictures should be seen on a big screen if possible... if you are a teacher or reader of a large(ish) audience.  Otherwise, sit back and read to your favorite little person!

Respect

This book is a classic, or in my humble opinion, it should be.  Many young students don't know who Jackie Robinson is, but he was the first African American to cross over from the negro baseball leagues to the major baseball league.  A man named Branch Rickey wanted baseball to represent all of America and plus he loved baseball and wanted to bring the best players to his team, the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Jackie Robinson had to sign a contract that he would be brave enough not to fight back, because racial prejudice was beginning to make its face known in America. This book puts our students into that place and time in America where change was about to occur, and how presented with so many negative things going on around him, Jackie Robinson stayed true to his word.

In the midst of trouble, you can still make a good decision, and self respect is extremely important. what better lessons can we teach our students?

Why I liked this book:
I am sure there are lots of books like this, but this books takes us through what people do to surmount obstacles that may stand in their paths.  Our students have big obstacles at times and this story may be the one that a child remembers when he or she needs to bounce back!

Who Would Like This Book:
I read it to fifth grade students, then showed a you tube "Bio" short presentation.  They were very quiet and it hit the spot that I was trying to reach, which was tapping that pride in the human spirit and the American way of bouncing back from defeat or negative things that happen to us.

Honesty

Ruthie is a little girl fox who likes teeny 

and ever so tiny things like dinky dinosaurs, and bears that are hardly there.  At school one day while playing on the twirling bar during recess, she finds a tiny camera in the grass nearby.

She starts clicking away til Martin comes up and says, "Hey that's my camera!"

Well Ruthie was thinking what a great find I have here, and now Martin has burst her bubble!

     She runs inside with Martin following close behind, to Mrs. Olsen their teacher.

Mrs. Olsen says, "It can't belong to both of you..." so she puts it safely inside one of her desk drawers til tomorrow.  Well, Ruthie can't concentrate for the rest of the day because slowly it dawns her she has lied and the camera is really not hers. By bed time she is beside herself with worry and when her parents sit down beside her on her bed, she confesses and tells them everything.

      Well, the next day she takes the long walk to Mrs. Olsen's desk to tell her the truth.  Ruthie has imagined that she will have to sit in a corner all day, or she would not have any friends left, or no one will ever want to be her friend again.  That, fortunately, is not what happens.  Mrs. Olsen kisses her forehead and thanks her for telling the truth.  The next page is devoted to Ruthie apologizing and Martin forgiving her.  The book ends with Ruthie sitting on the bus going home with a clear conscience, happy with herself and not missing that teeny tiny camera one bit.

What I Liked About This Book:

Classrooms can have sticky fingers sometimes, and this book gives us a window to look into a child's life and show them that  taking something that does not belong to you is wrong and doing the right thing makes you feel good about yourself.

This Book is for:

Kindergarten, First Grade, and maybe Second Grade

Learning Some Things Already.....

Well, the posts start at the bottom don't they.  I hope I can make this work.  I will need to be patient with myself!

Have you ever wondered how to teach a child about character?

Our children are not born knowing about character, are they?  They can be quite "all about me"!  Well, I have learned some things about character in the Guidance Room, and I want to share them!

Usually, I hear lots of words and lectures coming from parents when they begin to talk about doing the right thing with their children.  

(I have been one of them, with three grown children of my own!)  

Well, parents have a strong effect on their children, and talking to them is wonderful and listening to them is even more wonderful.  My intention is to show you how I have introduced character into the lives of many children in the past 15 (or so) years by just doing it!  I hope you enjoy the ride as we begin our journey together!